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Does the nation have a 1 track mind?

The economy is humming, the electorate is pacified and the word is that this year's election will be one of the most ignored in generations. That is, until you bring up the divisive issue of abortion. If there is any issue that is exciting voters, it is the abortion issue. But in a nation where children go without proper schooling, where the environment is being degraded and political greed and corruption are rampant, has American politics really boiled down to a single issue election?

Whether you're pro-choice or pro-life, you cannot escape the constant debate over this issue in the last couple of months. Republican George W. Bush has been much lauded by pro-lifers and the right-thinking members of the electorate. Democrat Al Gore, whose position has not always been as fixed, has been endorsed by prominent abortion rights groups like the National Abortion and Reproductive Action League. Now that the lines have been clearly drawn, gentlemen to your corners!

But why is abortion the pivotal issue, and why now? The answer lies in America's prosperity. With a chicken in every pot, so to speak, most Americans are content with things, and are not really thinking national issues. Voter satisfaction has led to a gaping hole in the national discourse.

In this climate, religious and conservative strategists have used this void to attack the legal status of abortions. Gore and Bush have tapped this energy in their campaign, each eager to grab the attention of apathetic voters with their polarized viewpoints on this single issue. In the absence of any other concerns, abortion has taken center stage.

In the last comprehensive study by the Centers for Disease Control, the governmental agency recorded 1,221,585 legal abortions in the United States had by women ages 15-45. When you consider that the population of our nation is around 300 million, less than 0.5 percent of citizens are touched by this issue.

Conservative opponents argue using these numbers reduces human life to statistics, but the statisti points to an important question. Does the abortion issue really deserve to be our top priority when electing our future leader? Even if our economy is strong, there are many more pressing issues than abortion to discuss this election year.

There are the issues of gun control, education and medical care. But in typical political fashion, strategists and candidates alike are pandering to emotions instead of attacking the numerous problems in America. What is most troubling about this debate is the way our nation treats its already living children.

In a country where people are actively encouraged to have more unwanted children, more than half a million languish in foster care. Even wanted children are treated poorly by our nation. Millions live in poverty, face violence and are abused. In the South, from which both our political candidates hail, 5.5 million children live in poverty.

What the facts state is that there is already not enough room in the hearts and homes of America for children. The abortion debate, when seen in this light is farcical, considering how our communities and politicians treat children. In less than five months, our country will be electing its first president of the 21st century. This presidency will set the pace for this new era. While many things are going well, there are plenty of others that need attention.

American needs the active participation of its citizens to change the focus of the election. Without it, we risk the stagnation of national progress. Our country owes it to itself not to make this a single issue election.

Lora J. Mackel is a history junior. She can be reached at editor@wildcat.arizona.edu.